, 1887-09-07
THE THEATER FIRE.
The Victims Mostly Working
People.
Pitiful Scenes in the Vicinity
of the Disaster.
Most Of the Bodies Burned
Beyond Recognition.
After the Fire,

LONDON, Sept. 6.-The victims by the
burning Of the Theater Royal last night
we're mostly working people. As soon as
the flames were put out a large force be-
gan searching for the bodies. The stair
way leading to the gallery was literally
packed with bodies, while at the head of
the stairs there were scores of others piled
one on top Of another. The unfortunate
victims had rushed to the door when the
alarm was given, butl'found the stairway
blocked and all escape cut off. In a
short time the flames had reached them
and they suffered a horrible death.
There were pitiful scenes in the vicinity
of the burned theater this morning as the
friends and relatives of the supposed vic
tins waited the recovering of the bodies.
In many cases fathers and mothers both
persisted and numerous children are thus
left without any means of support. Sew
eral bodies were burned so that only a
small cinder remained. The number of
persons severely injured is sixty. 1t is
feared the deaths will reach 40.
1t has been ascertained that there were
200 persons occupying seats in the gallery
and of these 100 lost their lives. The
search Tor the bodies still goes on. 1t is
very probably thai the total number of
deaths will never be ascertained, owing to
he fact many bodies were completely
calclned. Two stalls in the stables be.
longing to the hotel adjoining are filed
with remains, so that it is impossible to
identify. Most of the killed we're adults
and chiefly men. but a few children per
lshed More bodies have been taken
from the ruins. The charred remains of
twenty persons were discovered in one
heap. A mother, father and child were
found clasped in one embrace.
In nearly every case the clothing had
been torn off the victims. From many of
the bodies the limbs were missing, and
the remains showed evidence that they
had been wrenched off. Several whole
families, numbering from two to five per-
sons. lost their lives. The construction of
the gallery staircase accounts for the
great loss of life. Half way down the
flight there was a sharp angle. The first
persons who left the gallery got past
safely, but several of those who followed
were thrown down and iammed into the
angle, and were unable to extricate them
selves owing to the pressure from be
hind. The staircase at this place was eff
fectually blocked and there was no other
way VI escape.
A scene shifter says the fire started
among the gauze which became ignited.
The flames spread to the scenery, with
which the stage was generally full, owing
to preparations for the production of of
the pantomine. The audience numbered
800 people.
In tie house of commons to-day Nh.
Matthews. home secretary, said the cal
amity at Exeter showed the necessity of
legislation in the matter, and the govern
ment intended to deal with the subject.
The inquest over the victims was begun
TO day. 1t was impossible to identify
many of the bodies. The Jury simply
viewed the remains. A public funeral
will be held to morrow.
The Standard says the sad similarity
between the Exeter theatre disaster and
previous disasters suggest a pitiable dis
regard of the teachings of experience.
The NeloS says: 1t is safe to say that
the effect of this awful disaster will be a
general law governing the construction
and management of public places through
out the kingdom. After this accident
and that at the Opera Comique in Paris
we ought surely to require no more warn.
ings.